Statutes & Rules

Statutes and Administrative Rules

The last update to statutes pertaining to the Veterinary Board became effective August 3, 2018. This included changes from House Bill 2261 and primarily modified A.R.S. 32-2215, qualifications for a veterinary license related to veterinary faculty member licenses.

April 26, 2018: Changes to statutes pertaining to dispensing, prescribing, CE requirements related to the Arizona Opioid Epidemic Act of 2018. See below for further information on these changes.

Please note that this set of Arizona laws (statutes) is commonly referred to as the "Veterinary Practice Act."

Reportable Criminal Charges

Under Arizona law, any veterinarian or certified veterinary technician, or person who has filed an application for either, is required to report to the Veterinary Medical Examining Board within 10 days of being charged with any felony or with certain misdemeanors (See A.R.S. 32-3208).

Being charged with the crime triggers the duty to report. Being arrested is not the same as being charged.

You have to report the matter in writing within 10 business days. It is not acceptable to wait until you renew your license or certification.

You must report being charged with any felony, even if you or your attorney thinks the felony is not related to your practice.

You must report being charged with certain misdemeanors (See A.R.S. 32-3208). Please note that DUIs, drug offenses and sexually based offenses are on the list, no matter if they are charged by the federal government, the State of Arizona, or by any city, town or municipality.

You may report the charge by mailing, faxing or emailing a written statement to the Board office that you have been charged. Please give the date of the charge and the specific criminal statutes you were charged with violating. You must attach a copy of the official charging documents. You or your attorney may send any other document or information you choose.

2018 Arizona Opioid Epidemic Act - New Requirements for Veterinarians

On January 26, 2018, the Governor signed SB1001, knows as the "2018 Arizona Opioid Epidemic Act." The new requirements related to veterinarians became effective on April 26, 2018.

Main new requirements summarized (we suggest you read the text of SB1001 for exact language):

1. Requires a veterinarian who reasonably suspects or believes that an individual is attempting to obtain controlled substances for a reason other than to treat an animal to report the suspicion to local law enforcement within 48 hours. It is NOT necessary to report this information to the Board.

2. Requires that the report include specified identifying information and states that veterinary records pertaining to the investigation must be provided to law enforcement upon request.

3. Grants immunity from civil liability to a veterinarian who makes a report in good faith.

4. Requires a veterinarian who dispenses a schedule II drug or a benzodiazepine to comply with all of the following:

a) limits the initial amount of a schedule II controlled substance dispensed by a veterinarian to a 5-day supply at a dosage that is clinically appropriate for the animal being treated. (A prescription that is filled at a pharmacy is not subject to this limit);

b) limits the initial amount of a benzodiazepine dispensed by a veterinarian to a 14-day supply at a dosage that is clinically appropriate for the animal being treated. (A prescription that is filled at a pharmacy is not subject to this limit); and

c) limits dispensing by a veterinarian for an animal with a chronic condition* to one, 30-day supply at a time after the initial prescription limits have been exhausted. (A prescription filled at a pharmacy is not subject to this limit.)

5. Specifies that the initial prescriptions that are filled at a pharmacy are not subject to the supply time limitations.

6. Requires health professionals who are authorized to prescribe or dispense schedule II controlled substances AND who have a valid U.S. DEA registration number to complete at least 3 hours of opioid, substance use disorder or addiction-related continuing education each license renewal cycle. (At this time, this requirement is not stated in the Arizona Administrative Code (a.k.a. Administrative Rules) that apply to the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board. However, this new statute takes precedence, thus, in the renewal cycle ending 12/31/18, licensees should make their best effort to comply with this new requirement. The Board understands licensees may have already completed their 20 required hours and/or may not be able to identify appropriate CE to comply with this new requirement, thus, the Board is unlikely to take disciplinary action if a licensee has not completed the 3 hours of opioid, substance use disorder, addiction-related CE in this cycle. It will be expected in the 2020 renewal cycle.)

Note that these new laws do NOT require veterinarians to participate in the Arizona Pharmacy Board's Prescription Monitoring Program.